It seems that Christmas has come early for the Pawtucket Red Sox. Just one week before Christmas, they were able to find their new manager, former Portland Sea Dogs skipper Kevin Boles. He now becomes the 16th manager in the PawSox's 62-year history.

For those not familiar with Kevin Boles, he first broke into the managerial spot in 2000 for the then Florida Marlins Gulf Coast League rookie team. In 2001 he was called up to manage their Short-A team, the Utica Blue Sox until the end of the season when the Blue Sox moved elsewhere. In 2002, Boles was hired to be the manager of the Kansas City Royals Gulf Coast team before being promoted to their Arizona League rookie in 2003. Then from 2004-2007, Boles was the manager of the Minnesota Twins’ Single-A teams those season. It was in 2008 that Boles was brought into the Red Sox organization. He first managed their Single-A squad, the Greenville Drive, from 2008-2009 and then in 2010, he was promoted to the High-A Salem Red Sox. It was in 2011 that Boles made his Double-A debut. He took over the Portland Sea Dogs managerial role after Arnie Beyler, who was promoted to the PawSox manager role that same year. Boles was the Sea Dogs manager from 2011-2013. During his tenure he managed some of the up and coming PawSox and Red Sox players like Catchers Ryan Lavarnway and Dan Butler, Third Baseman Will Middlebrooks, shortstop Xander Bogaerts, outfielders Jackie Bradley Jr. and Bryce Brentz, and pitchers Felix Doubront, Drake Britton, and Anthony Ranaudo. It’s no surprise that the PawSox hired a manager had ties with the Red Sox farm system (like Arnie Beyler and Gary DiSarcina). But at the same time it is a very strategic move to bring in somebody who has spent time with. It seems that Boles will have his work cut out for him going into 2014. He assumes control over a PawSox squad that not only was in the Governors’ Cup this past season but has a majority of players who won the Governors’ Cup back in 2012. But then again, everybody was saying the same thing when Gary DiSarcina took over back in 2013 and he led the team that was just one swing away from getting their second consecutive Governors’ Cup championship. Whether they make the playoffs or not, one thing will be for certain is that the PawSox players will play hard for Boles and the PawSox faithful will stand by him.